The two most important leagues in Cuba are the National League and the Super League.
The National League
It starts on November and ends in April. It consists of 90 games. All teams play each other. There are 16 teams.
The first places in each groups advance to the playoff. The two teams with the best records advances to the playoffs too. So you may have one group having 3 teams in the playoffs and one group having just one. The team with the best record plays the team with the worst record among the two non first place teams. Ex: In the 44 Cuban National Series, Pinar del Rio was the only team from Group 1 that advanced to the playoff. In Group 2, Industriales, Havana and Santi Spiritus advanced.
Winners play for the league championship.
The winner of each league play for the Cuban crown.
Current champion: Las Avispas de Santiago de Cuba (Wasps)
Second place: Los Vaqueros de la Havana (Cowboys)
Bold below indicates favorites.
The National league is divided in two: West and East
West League:
Group 1
Los Toronjeros de la Isla de La Juventud (Grapefruit Croppers) "Livan Hernandez(Nationals), Ariel Prieto(Marlins AAA)
[I]Los Vegueros de Pinar del Rio (Cigar Makers)[/I] "Contreras(Chicago), Baez(Tampa), Soler(Mets), Yobal Duenas (Yanks AA)"
Los Cocodrilos de Matanza (Cocodriles) "Oropeza (Orioles AAA), Michel Abreu"
Los Guerreros Metropolitanos (Metropolitan Warriors) "Rey Ordonez", Rafael Galvizo(Marlins A), Jose Cordero(Twins A)
Group 2
[I]Los Leones de Industriales (Havana Lions)[/I] The New York Yankees of Cuba! " Orlando Hernadez(White Sox), Kendry Morales(Angels), Adrian Hernandez, Barbaro Canizares, Rene Arocha"
Los Camaroneros de Cienfuegos (Shrimps) (Adiel Palma)
Los Gallos de Santi Spiritus (Roosters) Yulieski Gourriel, Frederich Cepeda and Eriel Sanchez (Cuba)
Los Vaqueros de la Havana (Cowboys) " Raul Valdez(Cubs AAA), Vladimir Nunez (Indians AAA), Andy Morales
East League
Group 3
Los Naranjas de Villa Clara (Orange Growers)) "Yuniesky Betancourt(Mariners), Zaidel Beltran(Yanks A), Jorge Toca (White Sox AAA), Rolando Arrojo"
Los Alfareros de Camaguey(Ceramists) "Arian Cruz (Reds AA)" [url]
Los Tigres de Ciego de Avila (Tigers)
Los Magos de las Tunas (Magicians) "Osmani Urrutia" (Cuba)
Group 4
[I]Los Alazanes de Gramma (Sorrels)
Las Avispas de Santiago de Cuba (Wasps)
Los Sabuesos de Holguin(Hounds)
Los Indios de Guantanamo (Indians)
Cuban Super League
Runs from April to May after the National league. The Super league only has 4 teams: Occidentales (Westeners), Havana, Centrales (Centrals) and Orientales (Easteners). It consists of 30 games. Players from this league are eligible for "The Cuban National team".
Any of these 4 teams can win and loose against any MLB teams.
Occidentales gets players from Isla de La Juventud Grapefruit Croppers, Pinar del Rio Cigar Makers and Matanza Cocodriles.
Havana gets players from Industriales Lions, Havana Cowboys and Metropolitanos Warriors.
Centrales gets players from Cienfuegos Shrimps, Villa Clara Orange Growers, Camaguey Ceramists, Santi Spiritus Roosters and Ciego de Avila Tigers.
Orientales gets their players from Las Tunas Magicians, Gramma Sorrels, Santiago de Cuba Wasps, Holguin Hounds and Guantanamo Indians.
Other Leagues
All teams are represented in the junior categories with one team. Every category has a national tournaments. The following are the different categories in Cuban baseball:
Category 9-10 years old
Category 11-12 years old
Category 13-14 years old
Category 15-16 years old
Category Junior
Provincial:
Every province in Cuba has their own championship tournament before the start of The National League.
Developmental League:
Runs after the Provincial leagues and before the National League. It is where young prospects polish their skills. Cuba has 14 provinces and one municipality. Havana, the capital, have two teams. Therefore, there are 16 teams. Players from this league don't have to much of a chance to make the roster from their respective province. This league ends at the beginning on November.
The National League
It starts on November and ends in April. It consists of 90 games. All teams play each other. There are 16 teams.
The first places in each groups advance to the playoff. The two teams with the best records advances to the playoffs too. So you may have one group having 3 teams in the playoffs and one group having just one. The team with the best record plays the team with the worst record among the two non first place teams. Ex: In the 44 Cuban National Series, Pinar del Rio was the only team from Group 1 that advanced to the playoff. In Group 2, Industriales, Havana and Santi Spiritus advanced.
Winners play for the league championship.
The winner of each league play for the Cuban crown.
Current champion: Las Avispas de Santiago de Cuba (Wasps)
Second place: Los Vaqueros de la Havana (Cowboys)
Bold below indicates favorites.
The National league is divided in two: West and East
West League:
Group 1
Los Toronjeros de la Isla de La Juventud (Grapefruit Croppers) "Livan Hernandez(Nationals), Ariel Prieto(Marlins AAA)
[I]Los Vegueros de Pinar del Rio (Cigar Makers)[/I] "Contreras(Chicago), Baez(Tampa), Soler(Mets), Yobal Duenas (Yanks AA)"
Los Cocodrilos de Matanza (Cocodriles) "Oropeza (Orioles AAA), Michel Abreu"
Los Guerreros Metropolitanos (Metropolitan Warriors) "Rey Ordonez", Rafael Galvizo(Marlins A), Jose Cordero(Twins A)
Group 2
[I]Los Leones de Industriales (Havana Lions)[/I] The New York Yankees of Cuba! " Orlando Hernadez(White Sox), Kendry Morales(Angels), Adrian Hernandez, Barbaro Canizares, Rene Arocha"
Los Camaroneros de Cienfuegos (Shrimps) (Adiel Palma)
Los Gallos de Santi Spiritus (Roosters) Yulieski Gourriel, Frederich Cepeda and Eriel Sanchez (Cuba)
Los Vaqueros de la Havana (Cowboys) " Raul Valdez(Cubs AAA), Vladimir Nunez (Indians AAA), Andy Morales
East League
Group 3
Los Naranjas de Villa Clara (Orange Growers)) "Yuniesky Betancourt(Mariners), Zaidel Beltran(Yanks A), Jorge Toca (White Sox AAA), Rolando Arrojo"
Los Alfareros de Camaguey(Ceramists) "Arian Cruz (Reds AA)" [url]
Los Tigres de Ciego de Avila (Tigers)
Los Magos de las Tunas (Magicians) "Osmani Urrutia" (Cuba)
Group 4
[I]Los Alazanes de Gramma (Sorrels)
Las Avispas de Santiago de Cuba (Wasps)
Los Sabuesos de Holguin(Hounds)
Los Indios de Guantanamo (Indians)
Cuban Super League
Runs from April to May after the National league. The Super league only has 4 teams: Occidentales (Westeners), Havana, Centrales (Centrals) and Orientales (Easteners). It consists of 30 games. Players from this league are eligible for "The Cuban National team".
Any of these 4 teams can win and loose against any MLB teams.
Occidentales gets players from Isla de La Juventud Grapefruit Croppers, Pinar del Rio Cigar Makers and Matanza Cocodriles.
Havana gets players from Industriales Lions, Havana Cowboys and Metropolitanos Warriors.
Centrales gets players from Cienfuegos Shrimps, Villa Clara Orange Growers, Camaguey Ceramists, Santi Spiritus Roosters and Ciego de Avila Tigers.
Orientales gets their players from Las Tunas Magicians, Gramma Sorrels, Santiago de Cuba Wasps, Holguin Hounds and Guantanamo Indians.
Other Leagues
All teams are represented in the junior categories with one team. Every category has a national tournaments. The following are the different categories in Cuban baseball:
Category 9-10 years old
Category 11-12 years old
Category 13-14 years old
Category 15-16 years old
Category Junior
Provincial:
Every province in Cuba has their own championship tournament before the start of The National League.
Developmental League:
Runs after the Provincial leagues and before the National League. It is where young prospects polish their skills. Cuba has 14 provinces and one municipality. Havana, the capital, have two teams. Therefore, there are 16 teams. Players from this league don't have to much of a chance to make the roster from their respective province. This league ends at the beginning on November.
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